Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Tips on the Next Solar Eclipse

All things were made through Him, and without Him
nothing was made that was made. -John 1:3

Yesterday the great Solar
Eclipse of August 21, AD 2017 took place across America. If you were unprepared, here are some tips
for the next Solar Eclipse.

1. Whether or not you are in the path of
totality (total eclipse of the sun by the moon), any partial eclipse can be
interesting. So, be prepared. In the Houston, Texas area we had 67%
totality. It was pretty dramatic if you
knew what to look for. The bright
sunlight dimmed and if you had proper lens, you could clearly see the eclipse
cut out a large portion of the sun.

2. Never look at the sun without proper
protection for your eyes. Proper protection
does not include squinting, holding your hand above your eyes, looking between your
fingers, or wearing a cap. Neither does
it include a pair of sunglasses, or even two or three pairs of sunglasses. You can do serious damage to your eyes by
looking at the sun.

3. Proper eye protection to look at the eclipse
include those one-dollar eyeglasses especially made for the purpose. But, get them early; they invariably run
out.

4. An alternative most do not know is to use a
welding lens or filter plate. You can
get them at a welding supply store, and sometimes at a hardware store. A man at a welding supply said to look at the
sun you need a shade 12 or 13. It was
reported by local news that NASA recommends a shade 13 or 14.

If they do not have the right
shade, you can put two together to equal the right level. For example, a shade 8 and a shade 5.

A welding lens only costs about
four dollars.

Even these welding lenses
should be purchased early; they very likely will be sold out before an
eclipse.

Do not use welding lenses that
are scratched or cracked.

5. Make you own solar eclipse viewer.

Get a welding lens, shade
13.

Get a piece of cardboard
about the size of a sheet of paper.

Lay the lens in the middle of
the cardboard and trace around it.

Cut out a rectangle slightly
smaller than the lens.

Place lens over the cut out,
and tape it to the cardboard with electrical tape.

Before covering the print on
the lens edge, you might want to copy that information on the cardboard, especially
the shade number.

Also include the date of the
eclipse.

You now have a viewer for the
solar eclipse.

6. You can also make a box with aluminum foil, a
pin hole, and white sheet of paper. The sun
shines through the pin hole and you can see the eclipse on the sheet of paper. You can find more detailed directions on the
internet.

These (#5 and #6) could also make
good projects for Sunday School, school, or home school kids.

7. A solar eclipse reminds us of our Heavenly
Father who created the Heavens and the Earth (Genesis 1:1). Christians should never worship the creation,
but we do worship the Creator. The eclipse
shows us the precision in which God hung the stars, planets, sun, moon, in
space. It should also remind us of how
God created and placed us in the perfect environment to live, thrive, and serve
Him.

8. Churches can prepare and advertise a Solar
Eclipse Party.

Place it in the paper and on
your church sign.

Print a handout with fast facts
about the Solar Eclipse and our Creator. Include your church name, address, service times.

It gives you the opportunity
for a community event, to help some who would not be able to see the eclipse,
and gives a chance for witness.

Provide snacks and drinks.

9. Professionals can take pictures of the
eclipse. But anyone can take pictures of
those viewing the eclipse. They make interesting photos.

“Eclipses are demonstrations
of God's glory” and serve as “yet another example of creation pointing back to
our Creator.”

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Southern Baptist Pastor

Serving the Lord on the upper Gulf Coast of Texas.
Author of The Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow, Hannibal Books; and Ancient Wine and the Bible, Free Church Press.
See Article, "About Gulf Coast Pastor" for more information.